The word "barnacle" is attested in the early 13th century as Middle English "bernekke" or "bernake", close to Old French "bernaque" and medieval Latin bernacae or berneka, denoting the barnacle …

As the cirri rapidly extend and retract through the opening at the top of the barnacle, they comb the water for microscopic organisms. They quickly withdraw into their protective shells if they sense a …

May 9, 2025 · Barnacles attach to a surface once and stay put for life. Most barnacles, especially the acorn and gooseneck varieties, start life as barnacle larvae drifting in the ocean before transforming …

Sep 4, 2025 · A prominent feature of barnacle anatomy is the penis, which is both retractable and capable of growing up to eight times the body length (the highest penis-to-body ratio in the animal …

Barnacle defined and explained with descriptions. Barnacle is a small crustacean that attaches itself to marine objects such as rocks, and boats.

Aug 19, 2025 · These predators graze on barnacle populations, integrating them into the broader marine food web. The hard shells of barnacles provide a protective covering, making them a relatively tough …

Dec 20, 2025 · Barnacle, any of more than 1,000 predominantly marine crustaceans of the subclass Cirripedia highly modified for sedentary life. There are about 850 free-living species (all marine) and …